Devotion and Anticipation Psalm 63
|
|
- Grant Carr
- 5 years ago
- Views:
Transcription
1 Devotion and Anticipation Psalm 63 GK Chesterton was once asked, If you were stranded on a island and could only take one book with you, what would it be? His answer, of course, was Thomas Practical Guide to Shipbuilding. You thought it was going to be the Bible didn t you? Before you can answer a question like that, you need to be clear about your highest objectives. He answered the way he did since his highest objective would be to get off the island. Here s a question for you: If you wanted to learn how to pray and you could have only one book, what would it be? Again, you d need to be clear about your objective before you could answer that question. You could find a book of prayers to memorize if you want to say a prayer before meals or before bedtime. But what if you wanted to learn how to pray when you re so anxious about the future that you re paralyzed? Or when you re so overcome with guilt that you can t imagine that God loves you anymore? Or when you simply want to express to God how much you love Him? Or when you are lukewarm and don t feel like praying? Or when your enemies are making your life miserable? Is there anywhere you can turn that will help you learn how to pray in any and every situation? The answer is, Yes, turn to the book of Psalms. For the past 2500 to 3000 years, the people of God have turned to the psalms to learn how to pray. When Jesus faced the darkest hour of His earthly life, He turned to the psalms to express Himself to the Father. He was quoting from Psalm 22 when He prayed, My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me? The psalms have been the goto book for learning to pray for millennia. Most of the Bible is God talking to people; in the psalms we find people talking to God. These are people who were in covenant relationship with God, people who took seriously that God had promised to take care of them no matter what. Much of the time they are appealing to God to be faithful to the covenant He had made with them: God, where are You? I m dying down here, and You are silent! I don t have any hope unless You come through for me! The psalms are always honest and often raw. This morning we begin a seven-week sermon series on prayer from the book of Psalms. We d like for you to view this sermon series as a workshop on prayer. We d really like you to take away one or two specific ideas from each sermon that you intend to practice (either that week or whenever appropriate). Instead of passively listening to these messages, actively listen for ways that you might approach God in prayer. Instead of thinking, I m not very good at prayer and I ll probably never be very good at prayer, consider the possibility that God might open up new ways that you might approach Him in prayer. My assumption is that every single one of you can having a thriving prayer life given your temperament, your circumstances, your schedule, and your past. Today we consider Psalm 63. In this psalm David gives us an example of how we can pray prayers of anticipation and devotion. It might never occur to us to express our devotion to God or to anticipate times of seeking Him. But David illustrates that such praying can be very fruitful.
2 Prayers of Anticipation, Psalm 63, 5/13/12! 2 Psalm 63 A Case Study in Anticipation and Devotion. The heading of this psalm is: A Psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah. In the Scriptures, the wilderness was a difficult place to be, but it was also a place where people commonly experienced God. David was either hiding from King Saul who had been rejected by God (1 Samuel 23) or from his son Absalom (2 Samuel 15). He begins with an expression of his devotion to God and his commitment to seek God. 1 O God, You are my God; I shall seek You earnestly; My soul thirsts for You, my flesh yearns for You, In a dry and weary land where there is no water. I love how David addressed God: O God, You are my God. There s nothing arrogant or possessive in addressing God in this way; he was simply taking God at His word when He promised Abraham s descendants, I will be your God (see Genesis 17:7). David was only affirming that God had committed to playing this role in his life. He lived as a person who belonged to God. He also declared, I shall seek You earnestly/fervently. When was the last time you expressed to God that you intend to seek Him fervently? Honestly, it rarely occurs to me to pray something that tangible and direct. I m much more likely to pray, God, please help me seek You better, or God, I feel like a slug; I m sorry I don t seek You as I should. Those prayers are fine, but David demonstrates that it s also good to engage our wills and declare to God our intentions to seek Him. There s a risk, of course, in doing this. It s much safer to pray, God, if I feel like it, I might seek you tomorrow morning. But why not go for it!?! David prayed, I will seek you earnestly. David prayed a similar thing in Psalm 5:3. 3 In the morning, O Lord, You will hear my voice; In the morning I will order my prayer to You and eagerly watch. Do you see how intentional David was about praying and seeking God? It was one of the core commitments of his life. Consider the possibility of praying this type of prayer tonight before you go to bed: O God, You are my God. Tomorrow morning, You will hear my voice. I fully intend to seek You tomorrow morning. This is the type of praying that we can learn from David in the psalms: Declare to God your intention to seek Him. If you re the type of person who has been saying or thinking for months (or years), I know I should seek God more... perhaps you simply need to decide that you will make seeking God a priority in your life and declare as much to Him (like David did). But what if you honestly don t intend on seeking God tomorrow? Maybe the starting point is declaring that to God. I m serous about this. Tonight before you go to bed, be honest
3 Prayers of Anticipation, Psalm 63, 5/13/12! 3 with God and tell Him, God, tomorrow morning I fully intend on taking my relationship with You for granted. I really don t see any need to seek You; my life is humming along just fine without it. And so don t get up early for me. You ll hear from me if I m desperate, probably not before... If that is genuinely the condition of your heart, expressing as much is the place to start. That type of honestly puts you in a position for God to show you whatever you need to see. David declared his intention to seek God because he understood the condition of his soul. The condition of your soul will always suggest issues to bring before God in prayer. 1 O God, You are my God; I shall seek You earnestly; My soul thirsts for You, my flesh yearns for You, In a dry and weary land where there is no water. You can probably think of a time when you ve been thirsty maybe even a bit dehydrated. When you re that thirsty, nothing else matters much and nothing else will satisfy you except a drink of water. David recognized that his soul was that parched for God. And so seeking Him was an obvious thing to do because he wanted his thirst quenched. If we want to pray well, we need to pay attention to the condition of our souls. We need to slow down long enough to recognize that our souls are starved and parched for the food and drink that only God can give. So many times we ignore our condition and just keep plowing through life with less and less spiritual energy. The other option - the one David illustrates - is saying to God, I m hungry and thirsty, so I am coming to You to fill me up! Consider making the condition of your soul a matter of conversation with God. Generally speaking, some aspect of God s character will address the deficiencies of our souls. For David, his parched soul would be addressed by God s overflowing abundance. For you, perhaps you re frightened about something - some circumstances or relationship. When you bring your fear out into the open you re now ready to experience God as a strong tower, as the defender of your soul, as the Good Shepherd who fights your enemies, etc. God doesn t merely want your time and prayers; He wants your heart, and He wants all of it. Therefore it makes sense to make the condition of our souls a matter of conversation with God. In verses 2 through 5 David rehearses how he had experienced God in times of worship. His worship fueled his praying and his desire to seek God. 2 Thus I have seen You in the sanctuary, To see Your power and Your glory. 3 Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, My lips will praise You. 4 So I will bless You as long as I live;
4 Prayers of Anticipation, Psalm 63, 5/13/12! 4 I will lift up my hands in Your name. 5 My soul is satisfied as with marrow and fatness, And my mouth offers praises with joyful lips. David had spent a tremendous amount of time dwelling upon the attributes of God that he had experienced in worship ( in the sanctuary ). God s power, glory, and lovingkindness were more than just abstract theological concepts for him. He had experienced them firsthand and had internalized their significance for his life. That s the fruit of meditation. Meditation has been described as a lion sitting there growling over its prey; the lion has caught it and is now going to enjoy it bit by bit. That s what we do when we meditate on God s attributes - we enjoy them slowly and fully. Because David had experienced so much satisfaction in God, David expresses a commitment to bless God as long as he lives, to lift up his hands in God s name, and to offer praises with joyful lips. Because he found God so satisfying, David makes a bold commitment to worship throughout his life. Following David s example, we might identify attributes of God during our times of corporate worship that can fuel our meditation (and therefore our praying). Perhaps some aspect of God s character that you experience here this morning will capture your imagination (or at least get your attention). That experience of God can and should fuel your praying. For example, in a few minutes, we re going to sing Be Thou My Vision as a response to this message. There s a line in that song that says, High King of Heaven, my victory won. This truth - that God is the High King of Heaven - reminds us that He holds the place of supremacy in all the universe. You might mull over the fact that you are in a love relationship with the High King of heaven. What difference does that make in your circumstances? You might ponder how your victory is already won because of Jesus death and resurrection. Identifying such attributes and actions of God can fuel your meditation and praying. Verses 6 through 8 introduce us another realm of praying to consider: nighttime prayers. In these verses David explains his habit of remembering and meditating upon God at night. Meditation and prayer naturally go hand in hand; as we think deeply about God, we will naturally address Him in prayer. 6 When I remember You on my bed, I meditate on You in the night watches, 7 For You have been my help, And in the shadow of Your wings I sing for joy. 8 My soul clings to You; Your right hand upholds me. In Hebrew culture, the night was divided into three four-hour watches or periods of time. When David speaks of meditating on God in the night watches he is saying that he ponders God s attributes when he is awake during the night. We aren t given details of what David was experiencing, but if 1 Samuel 23 is the context of this psalm, David and his men were in the wilderness because Saul wanted to kill them. David may well
5 Prayers of Anticipation, Psalm 63, 5/13/12! 5 have meditated during the night watches in light of the danger he faced. Of course nobody was making David meditate on God during the night watches; it wasn t a law that he had to be careful to observe. Rather, he was internally motivated to dwell upon God because he had found God so satisfying. He had a reservoir of experiences and convictions from which to draw. That s what David makes clear in verse 7. He meditated in the night watches... For You have been my help. He didn t forget how good God had been to him that day; his meditation flowed from his experience of God throughout the day. He savored the fact that God had been his help and that he dwelt in the shadow of [His] wings. Psalm 119:148 expresses a similar thought, making clear that such night meditation wasn t a duty but a delight: 148 My eyes anticipate the night watches, That I may meditate on Your word. The psalmist looked forward to the peace and quiet of the night watches so that he might focus his attention more fully upon God and His word. I wake up in the middle of the night quite often. Sometimes it s frustrating; all I can think about is how tired and unproductive I m going to be the next day. But sometimes I take advantage of the stillness and the solitude; sometimes I get up and enjoy rich times of fellowship with God. Instead of worrying about tomorrow, we can savor what God has already done. Consider the simple bedtime exercise of thinking back over your day and considering how you ve experienced God that day. You could do this tonight actually. Before bed or in bed, think back over the day and ponder, In what ways have I experienced God today? Maybe you ll remember something that you ve read in the Word; maybe you ll remember a conversation that you found helpful; maybe God disciplined you in some way. This is largely a matter of paying attention to what God is doing; we don t have to make things up because God is continually at work in our lives. Like David, when we remember God at night, we will naturally turn to Him in prayer. In the last three verses of this psalm David prays about his enemies. In a few weeks we ll spend an entire sermon on praying about our enemies, so I won t make any comments on these verses today. Today we ve seen at least four habits of prayer from Psalm 63 that are available to us. I d encourage you to consider practicing one or two of these things week. Here they are. Prayer ideas from Psalm 63: Declare to God your intention to seek Him. Talk with God about the condition of your soul. In corporate worship identify attributes of God that can fuel your mediation and your praying. At bedtime remember how you have experienced God that day.
Finishing the Day Well Psalm 63
Finishing the Day Well Psalm 63 Last week we began a four-week series from the Psalms. We re noticing an emphasis found in the Psalms on delighting in and experiencing and seeking God all day long. Instead
More informationFinishing the Day Well Psalm 63
Finishing the Day Well Psalm 63 Today we conclude a three-week series from the Psalms, noticing the emphasis on seeking God all day long. Instead of seeking and experiencing God infrequently or superficially,
More informationAnd you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength. Mark 12:30 (NLT)
And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength. Mark 12:30 (NLT) O God, You are my God; I shall seek You earnestly; My soul thirsts for You,
More informationDevotional Thoughts from PSALM 63. Introduction
Devotional Thoughts from PSALM 63 Dr. Bob Abramson Introduction As an important part of my morning devotions, I meditate on Psalm 63. My thoughts in this devotional study were taken from looking into both
More informationAdult Sunday School Lesson Summary for October 31, 2010 Released on Wednesday, October 27, God s Presence Comforts and Assures
Adult Sunday School Lesson Summary for October 31, 2010 Released on Wednesday, October 27, 2010 God s Presence Comforts and Assures Lesson Text: Psalm 63:1-11 Background Scripture: Psalm 63:1-11 Devotional
More informationPrayer and God s Covenant Love Psalm 42 & 43
Prayer and God s Covenant Love Psalm 42 & 43 People respond in different ways when they re frustrated or disappointed with another person. Some people go directly to the other person in order to talk things
More informationHow To Put Worship Back In Our Worship
Message for THE LORD'S DAY MORNING, January 19, 2014 Christian Hope Church of Christ, Plymouth, North Carolina by Reggie A. Braziel, Minister TOPIC: Worship How To Put Worship Back In Our Worship Psalm
More informationThe Loneliness and Pain of Betrayal
100523PM LOD-12 Desert Cries.doc The Life of David: Cries from the Desert of Loneliness & Betrayal I Samuel 23:19-20; Psalms 54 & 63 As we open to I Samuel 23 we are coming to the final stages of David
More informationSermon Series: To be used with: Sermon Title Possibilities: Scripture: Connection to Unit Theme: Introduction:
Sermon Series: Storm Shelter: Psalms of God s Embrace To be used with: Session Four: The Shelter of God s Encouragement Sermon Title Possibilities: Longing For The Lord Scripture: Psalm 42 Connection to
More informationPSALM 63 part 2 verses God: Experienced, Enjoyed, Exalted
PSALM 63 part 2 verses 2-5 9-6-15 God: Experienced, Enjoyed, Exalted (Psalm 63) Think about this with me -- If you were designing your perfect meal, what would you order for dessert? Hm? I would struggle
More informationDEVOTIONAL GUIDE: PSALMS MAY 8 TH, 2016
Psalm 61: Prayer of the King It is assumed that, at the time David penned this song, that he was King of Israel. After all the years of waiting, all the years fleeing from King Saul, all the nights spent
More informationIncredible Thirst Text: Psalm 63:1 Readings: Psalm 63; John 4: 1-15
Incredible Thirst Text: Psalm 63:1 Readings: Psalm 63; John 4: 1-15 We live in a restless and dissatisfied culture. All of us feel a restlessness in our soul. It is that longing for something that will
More informationRESPONDING with PRAISE A study of some of the Psalms in Section II
TABLE OF CONTENTS Lesson 1 Psalm 43 & 43 Lament/Trust Lesson 2` Psalm 46, 47, 48 Trust, Royal & Praise Lesson 3 Psalm 51 Repentance Lesson 4 Psalm 57 Trust Lesson 5 Psalm 62 Wisdom Lesson 6 Psalm 63 Royal
More informationPrayers for. Husbandsand wives. to pray with and for each other
P R A Y E R G U I D E Prayers for Husbandsand wives to pray with and for each other Prayer Guide for Husbands and Wives Copyright 2011, PrayerPower, Dallas, Texas prayer guide Prayers for Husbandsand wives
More informationADVANCING GOD S KINGDOM: DRAWING NEAR TO GOD
ADVANCING GOD S KINGDOM: DRAWING NEAR TO GOD Introduction: Needless to say, we are living in times of tremendous spiritual, political, and economic upheaval. Many natural disasters have been occurring
More informationTHE IMPORTANCE OF ENCOURAGEMENT
THE IMPORTANCE OF ENCOURAGEMENT In this teaching I will be looking at the importance of encouraging one another A great key to helping people reach their full potential in life and in their walk with the
More informationLIVING THE ABUNDANT LIFE THAT JESUS SPOKE OF
LIVING THE ABUNDANT LIFE THAT JESUS SPOKE OF As Christians we have the ability to live a life of great purpose and meaning, irrespective of what may be going on in our world. Jesus Himself said,... I have
More informationLesson October Devotion to Our God
Lesson 13 26 October 2014 Devotion to Our God Lesson Scope: Psalms 63, 95, 103, 144 Lesson Focus In all of David's trying experiences, what was it that sustained him spiritually? Whether fleeing from Saul,
More informationDavid begins: Verse 1 - "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want"
SHEPHERD PSALMS 23 Text: Introduction: Psalm 23 was written by King David during the period when his own son (Absalom) rebelled against him and toppled him from the throne. David fled Jerusalem and his
More informationFor many people, communication has become synonymous with talking. When we think of
What God Wants for Me: Part 3 Communicating with God Remain in Me, and I will remain in you.. John 15:5a (NLT) For many people, communication has become synonymous with talking. When we think of communicating
More informationGod's Comforting Presence Psalms 63:1-11 SS Lesson for 10/31/2010
God's Comforting Presence Psalms 63:1-11 SS Lesson for 10/31/2010 Devotional Scripture: Ps 100:1-5 OUTLINE INTRODUCTION OVERVIEW AND APPROACH TO LESSON LESSON INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND From the NIV Standard
More informationThe Spiritual Side of Mission Work Grouping A Resource for Mission Team Leaders
The Spiritual Side of Mission Work Grouping A Resource for Mission Team Leaders Work grouping offers numerous possibilities for spiritual growth both individually and as a group. Offering time alone each
More informationMoving Forward with God s Presence Exodus 33:
Moving Forward with God s Presence Exodus 33:14-15 3 5 17 I don t know about you, but we re moving forward! Exodus 33:14 15 (NKJV) 14 And God said, My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.
More informationTBC 7/11/10 a.m. Series on the Psalms - #26. A THIRST FOR GOD Psalm 63
TBC 7/11/10 a.m. Series on the Psalms - #26 A THIRST FOR GOD Psalm 63 Intro: I am sure that none of us needs to be told that we are living in very troubled times. Things are going on in our country that
More informationWorship Part Four Great is The Lord
Worship Part Four Great is The Lord Great is The Lord Worship is the greatest priority in our life. In Mark 12:30, Jesus said that the greatest commandment of all was to LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL
More informationAn Order for Compline
The service concludes with the Song of Simeon with this Antiphon, which is sung or said by all Guide us waking, O Lord, and guard us sleeping; that awake we may watch with Christ, and asleep we may rest
More informationANNUAL PRAYER INITIATIVE
ANNUAL PRAYER INITIATIVE March 1 31, 2014 Beholding the Beauty of the Lord To behold the beauty of the Lord and to meditate in His temple. Psalm 27:4 A Prayer/Worship Adventure in the Psalms Welcome to
More informationGod s House, David s House 2 Samuel 7
God s House, David s House 2 Samuel 7 Today we are going to consider one of the most theologically-significant passages in the Old Testament. Although the word covenant isn t found in this chapter, God
More information22 SESSION LifeWay
22 SESSION 2 The Point God Himself is my salvation. The Passage Psalm 27:1-6 The Bible Meets Life We depend on a lot of things to get us through the day. We depend on people to carry out their tasks. We
More informationWe invite you to participate in signing the Friendship Folders adding your name and address and if you desire a church newsletter or a pastoral call.
A SPECIAL WELCOME TO OUR GUESTS: We extend a warm welcome from Bethel Presbyterian Church! We invite you to participate in signing the Friendship Folders adding your name and address and if you desire
More informationThe LORD Is My Shepherd Text: Psalm 23:1-6 Series: The Psalms [#22] Pastor Lyle L. Wahl September 26, 2010
The LORD Is My Shepherd Text: Psalm 23:1-6 Series: The Psalms [#22] Pastor Lyle L. Wahl September 26, 2010 Theme: God Shepherds His Sheep Perfectly. Introduction Psalm 23 is one of the most familiar Psalms,
More informationTHE IMPORTANCE OF OVERCOMING TEMPTATION (Part One)
THE IMPORTANCE OF OVERCOMING TEMPTATION (Part One) God has so much in store for every person s life. However the moment we are born, we are immediately engaged in an ongoing spiritual war with the adversary
More information2 nd sunday of lent LONGING FOR GLORY. year c
2 nd sunday of lent year c LONGING FOR GLORY Readings for the Second Sunday of Lent First Reading ~ Genesis 15:5-12, 17-18 ~ The Lord God took Abram outside and said, Look up at the sky and count the stars,
More informationSpiritual Habits (Part 1) Lesson 1 Workbook Having a Relationship With God
Spiritual Habits (Part 1) Lesson 1 Workbook Having a Relationship With God FOUR PEOPLE Person's Name Days per week Hours per day How much time I see this person I spend with this I spend thinking person
More informationBearing Fruit Lisa Martens-Bartel for Osler Mennonite Church March 31, 2019
Bearing Fruit Lisa Martens-Bartel for Osler Mennonite Church March 31, 2019 Introduction (connections to Osler -Karl/Russ&Lucy) (farm, exploring calling/nudging pastoral intern, isolated church -love wider
More informationA Hunger For God's Presence
A Hunger For God's Presence We have looked at the first step towards revival, humbling ourselves. We will now move on to the second step as outlined in 2 Chronicles 7:14. Prayer, that is acknowledging
More informationENCOUNTERING GOD Part One - Hunger
ENCOUNTERING GOD Part One - Hunger 1. Listen to this story, I had my first experience with the presence of God when I was 5 years old. Arriving home from my ½ day of kindergarten, I usually ate lunch with
More informationFuneral Masses and Readings
Funeral Masses and Readings Dear Parishioners, Our Parish family extends it s deepest sympathy and prayers to you and your loved ones at this time of your loss. This booklet is to assist you in the planning
More informationCHRISTIAN LIFE. Learning the Bible
CHRISTIAN LIFE Learning the Bible This is a Bible university. We have all come to learn the Bible. God wants us to read through His Word over and over; letting it wash and cleanse us, transforming us into
More informationFUNERAL READINGS : RESPONSORIAL PSALM OPTIONS
FUNERAL READINGS : RESPONSORIAL PSALM OPTIONS Responsorial Psalm #1 (Ps 23) D1 R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. In verdant pastures
More informationResponsorial Psalm Options for the Mass of Christian Burial
Responsorial Psalm Options for the Mass of Christian Burial Responsorial Psalm Option #1: Psalm 23 R. The Lord is My Shepherd; there is nothing I shall want. Or Though I walk through the valley of darkness,
More informationWhen You Are Truly in Love Psalm 63:1-8
When You Are Truly in Love Psalm 63:1-8 O God, I have tasted your goodness, and it has both satisfied me and made me thirsty for more. I am painfully conscious of my need for further grace. I am ashamed
More informationHungering for the Righteousness of God
Hungering for the Righteousness of God Scriptures: Matthew 5:6 Introduction "You are what you eat." Nutritionists tell us that our appetites determine our diet, our diet determines our intake, and our
More informationThe Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. In verdant pastures he gives me repose; Beside restful waters he leads me; he refreshes my soul.
1. Psalm 23 R). The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want. R). Though I walk in the valley of darkness, I fear no evil, for you are with me. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. In verdant
More informationPsalm 63. (2015) The Bible not only reveals God s eternal plans purposes and promises. But also shows how you can know God for yourself.
Welcome to: - Bible House of Grace. God, through His Son Jesus, provides eternal grace for our failures and human limitations. Psalm 63. (2015) The Bible not only reveals God s eternal plans purposes and
More informationBy Streams of Living Water
By Streams of Living Water A Six-Part Worship Series on the Psalms 1. Soul Thirst Pastor David Flowers Sermon Series Focus For the most profound and enduring prayers of all time, both Christians and Jews
More informationConfession is a time for us to express our very need for God.
Hymn Festival Psalms & Reflections GRACE COVENANT PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, ASHEVILLE, NC October 7, 2018 Samantha Gonzalez-Block, Heather Ferguson, Marcia Mount Shoop, & Richard Coble Samantha--CONFESSION
More informationBlessed are those who are poor in spirit. are meek
Blessed are those who are poor in spirit mourn are meek Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, they will be filled Matthew 5: 6 (NIV) This Beatitude again follows logically from the
More informationHiddenness And Manifestation, The Book of Psalms Series: Staying Close August 31, 2014
Last Sunday we looked at John chapter 15 and Jesus invitation to be at home with God as Jesus talked about himself being a vine and us being branches that need to stay connected to him in order for our
More informationA COMMENTARY ON PSALM 23 LEADERSHIP
A COMMENTARY ON PSALM 23 LEADERSHIP LEADERSHIP This pamphlet is designed to help you understand God s expectations of His leaders. Throughout the Bible, we see several passages about leadership. In scripture
More informationS P I RITUA L E M P H A S I S M O N T H Grace to Listen and Follow God's Leading. John 10:27. July 13 th 19 th, 2015.
S P I RITUA L E M P H A S I S M O N T H - 2015 INTERN ATION AL CENTRA L GOSPEL CHURCH EDMONTON LOVE TEMPLE PRAYER FOCUS - WEEK THREE Grace to Listen and Follow God's Leading John 10:27 July 13 th 19 th,
More informationResponse: The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want. Response: The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
Psalm 23 Response: The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. In verdant pastures he gives me repose; Beside restful waters he leads me; he refreshes
More informationSOUL REST 7 DAYS TO RENEWAL DEVOTIONAL. c u r t i s z a c k e r y
SOUL REST 7 DAYS TO RENEWAL DEVOTIONAL c u r t i s z a c k e r y DAY 1 KEEP STILL Be still, and know that I am God. PSALM 46:10 Keep still and let Him do some work. THOMAS MERTON In our fast-paced culture,
More informationAbundant Life Confessions. Jesus, You came to give me life and that I have it abundantly. I receive it!
Reminder: These confessions are not to get the blessing; the blessing and prosperity are already ours by the work of Jesus. Confessing these verses helps to renew our minds to this fact and give us boldness
More informationScripture Verses Which Offer Comfort and Hope During Times of Suffering
Scripture Verses Which Offer Comfort and Hope During Times of Suffering I am feeble and utterly crushed; I groan in anguish of heart. All my longings lie open before you, O Lord; my sighing is not hidden
More informationThe Fruit of the Spirit: Goodness
The Fruit of the Spirit: Goodness We ve come in our study of the fruit of the Spirit to the virtue of goodness. Studying goodness was interesting for me this past week. To be honest, I started to panic
More informationINVOCATION The prayer that formally opens the worship experience asking for God s blessing. PRAISE & WORSHIP
1 SUNDAY WORSHIP INVOCATION The prayer that formally opens the worship experience asking for God s blessing. CALL TO WORSHIP Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands. Serve the Lord with gladness:
More informationHomeschool Challenge Liturgy of the Hours
Homeschool Challenge 2018-19 Liturgy of the Hours The theme for the Homeschool Challenge for the 2018-19 school year is the Liturgy of the Hours. This is an ancient prayer tradition of the Church based
More informationINSPIRED WORD September 20, 2017
INSPIRED WORD September 20, 2017 EXHORTATION / / INSPIRED TEACHING I d like to begin this evening with a reading from the Gospel of John. And you may be thinking, Oh, we ve heard Gospels so many times,
More informationResponse: The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
PSALM 23 9 Response: The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want. The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. In verdant pastures he gives me repose; Beside restful waters he leads me; he refreshes
More informationPrayers for the overwhelmed
P R A Y E R G U I D E Prayers for the overwhelmed Prayer Guide: Prayers for the Overwhelmed Copyright 2011, PrayerPower, Dallas, Texas prayer guide Prayers for the overwhelmed PrayerPower P.O. Box 801368,
More informationPsalm 42:1-2 Deepening our intimacy with God
One off Sermon 1 Psalm 42:1-2 Deepening our intimacy with God 12 th Oct 2017 Paul Collins. Psalm 42:1-2 (NLV) New Life Version 42 As the deer desires rivers of water, so my soul desires You, O God. 2 My
More informationConfession and Repentance
Confession and Repentance Review In the last session we spent time learning the practice of gazing upon Christ. Have you been able to incorporate gazing upon Christ into your time with God? How did that
More information21 DAYS OF PRAYER A PERSONAL PRAYER GUIDE
21 DAYS OF PRAYER A GUIDE WE HAVE A CONVICTION AT CROSSPOINT THAT WITH GOD, ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE. In light of this, we desire to practice consistent faith filled prayer, knowing and expecting that he
More informationThe Lord is My Shepherd
The Lord is My Shepherd Mountain Life Church Life Pack May 6, 2012 The Lord is My Shepherd Sermon Notes May 6, 2012 Ma*hew 6: 9 & Psalm 23 I. Jehovah Jireh - The Lord Provides A. Abraham s Dilemma (Exodus
More informationThe Greatest Commandment, Part 2 Loving God With All Your oul. Matthew 22:34-40
The Greatest Commandment, Part 2 Loving God With All Your oul Matthew 22:34-40 Matthew 22:34-40, 34 But when the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered themselves together.
More informationSunday September 30 th, 2018 Strengthening Ourselves in the Lord
Sunday September 30 th, 2018 Strengthening Ourselves in the Lord How do we respond in that moment when we feel we tried God and sensed His move, but now we are right back deep in the problem trying to
More informationCompassion for People without Christ Matthew 9:35-38
Compassion for People without Christ Matthew 9:35-38 The past year the leadership of Faith has been asking the question, Out of all the things we could pursue over the next 3 to 5 years, what are the most
More informationThe Blessing of the 8 th Day
The Blessing of the 8 th Day John 7:37-39 37 In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. 38 He that believeth on me,
More informationwater. Where is water? Now, let me turn a corner and draw an analogy to all of that. And this is my proposition today. Just like our bodies get thirst
Hey everybody. Welcome to Christ Fellowship. Thank you so much. I m so glad you are all here, and if you are a guest with us for the first time, I especially want to welcome you. My name is Rick, and I
More informationStartYourDay_HCText1P.qxd 5/20/03 3:15 PM Page i R 24. Starting Right. u u.
StartYourDay_HCTextP.qxd /0/0 : PM Page i Starting Your Day Right u u 0 0 R st PASS PAGES StartYourDay_HCTextP.qxd /0/0 : PM Page ii st PASS PAGES StartYourDay_HCTextP.qxd /0/0 : PM Page iii Starting Your
More informationFROM THE PASTOR S DESK
FROM THE PASTOR S DESK DEAR MEMBERS & FRIENDS Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! February has been little colder than I would like. On the bright side, at least we did not get all
More informationThe Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want. Or: Though I walk in the valley of darkness, I fear no evil, for you are with me.
Psalm 23:1-3, 4, 5, 6 (1) The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want. (4ab) Though I walk in the valley of darkness, I fear no evil, for you are with me. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not
More informationRESPONSORIAL PSALM Please Choose One From A-1 Through A-10 Below
RESPONSORIAL PSALM Please Choose One From A-1 Through A-10 Below A-1 Psalm 23:1-3, 4, 5, 6 : The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want. Though I walk in the valley of darkness, I fear no evil,
More informationHeaven VI. Celebrating Our Relationship with God
Heaven VI. Celebrating Our Relationship with God Recap important points: -There are two stages of heaven: Intermediate and Eternal Heaven (New Heaven and New Earth) -When mankind fell, creation fell. Both
More informationReturning to God Ash Wednesday
Ash Wednesday O Lord, open our lips: and our mouth shall proclaim your praise. Glory to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; Psalmody O God, you are my God; eagerly I seek you. (Ps. 63.1)
More informationSample. All-age service outlines
Part two All-age service outlines 64 These 15 service outlines have followed the tested format of Scripture Union s Light for the Lectionary books and earlier material from Light Years and Salt for all
More informationKatherine Hilditch www.understandingchristianity.co.uk Meditating on God s Peace by Katherine Hilditch ~ Copyright 2018 Katherine Hilditch. All Rights Reserved. Unless otherwise indicated all Scripture
More informationCONTENTMENT LESSON 5 LOOK IN THE RIGHT PLACE
CONTENTMENT LESSON 5 LOOK IN THE RIGHT PLACE NOTES Get Healthy Contentment Lesson Five: Look in the Right Place Looking Back: 15 Minutes Last week we examined four primary contentment killers: 1. Unfulfilled
More informationPsalms Are Real Prayers
Psalms Are Real Prayers INTRODUCTION Words. It can be hard to find the right words. Picture a classroom in which you are a student. The teacher is reviewing a lesson that was taught yesterday. There will
More informationWheelersburg Baptist Church 9/2/07. Psalm 63 When You re in the Desert **
Wheelersburg Baptist Church 9/2/07 Brad Brandt Psalm 63 When You re in the Desert ** Main Idea: According to Psalm 63, three things came into clear focus for David while in the desert. So, too, for us.
More informationSatisfaction! Psa 103:5 Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.
Satisfaction! Psa 103:5 Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's. Psa 22:26 The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the LORD that seek him:
More informationKingdom Living: Praying. Luke 10: 1-12
Kingdom Living: Praying Luke 10: 1-12 We continue with our Lenten series, Kingdom Living: Centering our lives on God and serving others by taking a look at how prayer calls us to become aware of and realize
More informationPrayer Introduction to Prayer & Praying November 7, 2010
Prayer Introduction to Prayer & Praying November 7, 2010 I. An Introduction to A Teaching on Prayer A. Scripture Introduction 1. Psalm 5:1-3... Give ear to my words, O LORD, consider my groaning. [2] Heed
More informationGod is our hiding place
1 God is our hiding place For Christians, God is our secret immovable hiding place. He is our special fortress and whenever life overwhelms us we can always run to Him. James 4:8 Draw nigh to God, and
More informationMatters of the Heart. Title Page SAMPLE 2016
Matters of the Heart Title Page 1 Contents Introduction...9 Week 1: Mothering From the Heart {Pride}... 10 Week 2: Mothering From the Heart {Waiting}... 13 Week 3: Mothering from the Heart {Renewal}...
More informationTitle: I Believe in God, But Don t Fear Him
Ipswich Lutheran Church A 32 Roderick Street, Ipswich, QLD, 4305 W www.ilp.org.au P 07 3202 4035 F 07 3281 9762 Date: 19/07/2015 Series: Practical Atheist Part: 4 Title: I Believe in God, But Don t Fear
More informationWorship Plan for Sunday, March 24, Lent Third Sunday in Lent ELW Holy Communion Setting One Sunday, March 24, 2019
Worship Plan for Sunday, March 24, 2019 3 Lent Third Sunday in Lent ELW Holy Communion Setting One Sunday, March 24, 2019 Introduction to the day The warnings are plentiful and blunt on the third Sunday
More informationFor more information on this topic, please see: Personal Relationship with God
Emotional Healing He has redeemed my soul in peace from the battle that was against me, For there were many against me. Psalm 55:18 When emotional peace occurs in an Immanuel session, you can easily recognize
More informationSocrates jammed him under again. Forty seconds passed. Fifty. "What do you want?" "Air!" he screeched. "I need air!"
Beatitudes BBC Sunday, June 26, 2016 Craving To Please God Matthew 5:6 Stephen Semple Focus The story is told of the ancient Greek philosopher Socrates. One day a proud young man walked up to Socrates
More informationPsalm 27 The Ups and Downs of a Trial 1
Psalm 27 The Ups and Downs of a Trial 1 Ps 27 (ESV) The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? (2) When evildoers assail
More informationSunday, March 3, 2019: Transfiguration of Our Lord
Sunday, March 3, 2019: Transfiguration of Our Lord Exodus 34:29-35 Psalm 99 2 Corinthians 3:12--4:2 A READING FROM EXODUS 29 Moses came down from Mount Sinai. As he came down from the mountain with the
More informationend of the earth WHEN my heart is faint IF my heart is faint So will I ever sing praises to your name... So will I ever sing praises to your name...
1 Psalm 61 When My Heart Is Overwhelmed This morning, we have another Psalm of David. Whether written at the time, or looking back, the occasion is a heart that is overwhelmed with the trials of life.
More informationFinishing Well: Sabbath!
Finishing Well: Sabbath It is so good to be back at Faith. We had a great time away, but we were really ready to come back. We feel like our sabbatical was just right in terms of length of time and in
More informationIn God s Presence there is fullness of Joy Luke 2:8-20; Psalm 16:5-11
In God s Presence there is fullness of Joy Luke 2:8-20; Psalm 16:5-11 Do you know that in the church, Christians as children of the Most High God, that, we are to be marked by contagious and unceasing
More informationSPIRITUAL DISCIPLINES
DOING THE SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINES TOGETHER A Study Based on Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life By Donald S. Whitney PLACING OURSELVES IN THE PATH OF GOD S GRACE BIBLE INTAKE LEARNING JOURNALING
More information#The Struggle Is Real I try to get my Sunday morning sermon written on Friday, at least a pretty complete version of it, but I struggled all day long
#The Struggle Is Real I try to get my Sunday morning sermon written on Friday, at least a pretty complete version of it, but I struggled all day long trying to decide what to preach. I kept asking the
More informationPraise amidst Unresolved Circumstances Romans 11:33-36
Praise amidst Unresolved Circumstances Romans 11:33-36 We all face unresolved issues in our lives. It s pretty rare when we re able to say, You know, there s really nothing in my life that s troubling
More informationJanuary 2. Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always. Psalm 105:4
January 1 Come to Me with a teachable spirit, eager to be changed. A close walk with Me is a life of continual newness. Do not cling to old ways as you step into a new year. Instead, seek My Face with
More information5/22/2016 Thirsting for God 1
"Thirsting for God" Why do some people pursue life with hope and zeal, while others muddle through life empty? Hello, I m Phil Sanders, and this is In Search of the Lord s Way, a Bible study. And today
More information